Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Biennial Review 2023-2025 - Northern Michigan University

Purpose:

As required by the Drug-Free School and Communities Act, Northern Michigan University conducts a biennial review of our Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) programs and policies to determine program effectiveness and consistency of policy enforcement.

Applicability:

To all students, staff, faculty and visitors

 

2023-2025 Northern Michigan University Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Biennial Review 

Report for the period: July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025

Drug-Free Schools and Campuses Regulations (EDGAR Part 86)
Alcohol and Other Drug Certification

President’s Certification

The undersigned attests and certifies that Northern Michigan University has adopted and implemented an alcohol and other drug prevention program for students and employees that, at a minimum, includes:

1.  An annual notification distributed to each employee and each enrolled student that states:

• The standards of conduct clearly prohibiting, at a minimum, the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees on its property or as part of any of its activities;
• A description of the applicable legal sanctions under local, State, or Federal law for the unlawful possession or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol;
• A description of the health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol;
• A description of any drug or alcohol counseling and programs that are available to employees or students; and
• A clear statement that the institution will impose disciplinary sanctions on students and employees, consistent with State and Federal law, and a description of sanctions, up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution, for violation of standards of conduct.  A disciplinary sanction may include the completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program. 

2.  A biennial review by the institution of its alcohol and other drug prevention comprehensive
program to:

• Determine its effectiveness and implement changes to its comprehensive alcohol and other drug prevention programs and policies, if necessary; and 
• Ensure disciplinary sanctions are consistently enforced. 

(Signatures on File)
___________________________________               _________________

 Gavin Leach                                                                      Date
 Interim NMU President         

                                                    

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: The NMU Drug-Free Schools Program Components 
Component 1: Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness Programming
Component 2: Healthy Alternatives - Alcohol and Drug-free Activities and Events
Component 3: Required Notifications
Component 4: Response to Noncompliance
Component 5: Consistently Applied Sanctions
Component 6: Biennial Review
Appendices: Web link addresses for Appendices A-K

The policies referenced in this report and the appendices refer to the version in effect during the review period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025; more recent updates may currently be in effect. All current policies are available at nmu.edu/policies.

Introduction: The NMU Drug-Free Schools Program Components

As required by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, Northern Michigan University conducts a biennial review of its Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Program and supporting policies to determine Program effectiveness and consistency of policy enforcement. 

The term “Program” is used in the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to mean the total efforts and activities utilized by a University to both prevent drug and alcohol abuse, as well as respond to illegal or excessive drug and alcohol use. Programs include training and education, early intervention, efforts to steer students to alcohol and drug-free activities, counseling, sanctions, and other University efforts. The Act also requires each University to conduct a biennial assessment of the effectiveness of the University’s Program and present that assessment to the University President for review and approval. 

Northern Michigan University’s Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Program consists of six components. First, the University provides alcohol and drug awareness activities and events for students and employees. Second, the University provides numerous and varied activities to support healthy, alcohol and drug-free pastimes. Third, the University provides the required notifications to all employees and students. Fourth, NMU responds to persons struggling with alcohol and other drugs in a supportive manner. Fifth, NMU applies sanctions consistently. Finally, the University has assigned a committee to conduct regular assessments of the Program as required under the Act, culminating in a report issued to the NMU President. See Appendix A for the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Biennial Review Committee Charter. 

This report describes the NMU Program components, documents the review of sanctions applied, and assesses the Program as a whole for the period between July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. Recommendations for improvement are included at the end of this report. 

Component 1: Alcohol and Drug Awareness Programming

Northern Michigan University provides numerous Alcohol and Drug Awareness programming opportunities, meaning activities and training sessions designed to inform students and employees about the risks associated with illegal or excessive alcohol and other drug use. The University provides both regular, consistent programming and various ad-hoc programming. These are some of the alcohol and drug awareness opportunities provided in this review period: 

Programming begins at orientation, before potential students are even enrolled at NMU. During orientation, staff from the NMU Police Department, the Dean of Students Office, and Orientation staff present alcohol and drug health and safety information. At least one parent session also includes talking points to help parents initiate a discussion about drug and alcohol use as well as information about drug-free activities on campus. Next, NMU sends a web-based training session from Vector Solutions to all students who attend orientation. The module is part of a series designed to provide risk management information, including drug and alcohol risk management information, to all first-time, on-campus students prior to their move-in date.

Once on campus, students are introduced to the Housing and Residence Life Office programming. This office utilizes student surveys to assess a multitude of factors, including student satisfaction with their living area, relationships made in their area, facilities/process-related questions, as well as questions regarding their perceptions about drugs and alcohol on campus. The survey asks students if they believe living on campus has enhanced their ability to understand the effect of drug and alcohol use. Based on the responses, Housing staff can evaluate the effectiveness of their drug and alcohol programming and educational initiatives.

Housing and Residence Life staff, resident directors, and the paraprofessionals who work as resident advisors, are specially trained in University resources related to drug and alcohol abuse. The Housing staff is proficient in identifying drug and alcohol use and how to address issues they personally encounter as well as reports from other students. In addition, the paraprofessional staff provides on-campus housing students with notification of the NMU Alcohol and Other Drug Policies via the Housing website, posting boards, mandatory meetings, government meetings, and emails. 

Specific programming efforts from Housing and Residence Life, often in collaboration with NMU Police Department, included:

• Programming Models:
  • 2023-2024: The Full Sail Initiative - an educational programming model in which every paraprofessional staff invites presenters once each semester to discuss a variety of topics, including on occasion, drug and alcohol safety.
  • 2024-2025: House/Hall Model - an educational programming model in which paraprofessional staff collaborate with students from a specific residence hall section (“house”) to identify topics, and plan educational and social activities, including drug and alcohol safety activities, based on those topics.

• Primetime:  A student organization advised by Housing and Residence Life staff that offers fun, drug- and alcohol-free social events as an alternative to students participating in events that involve alcohol or other drugs.

Off-campus students and upper-classmen also receive the University’s alcohol and other drug (AOD) information. However, they may not receive it at in-person events. Shortly after the 10th day of classes, any first-time NMU student who has not already received the full Vector Solutions web-based module is sent a link through their University email. The module contains information about drug and alcohol risk as well as links to relevant NMU policies, such as the medical amnesty policy. For upper-classmen, a condensed version of the Vector Solutions module is provided annually to returning undergraduate students and all graduate students. In addition, informational pamphlets on AOD and helpful resources are provided at NMU Fall Fest by the NMU Police Department. 

Ad-hoc educational programming on alcohol and drug awareness is regularly presented to the campus community by the NMU Police Department. The programs are available to any on-campus organization and can be adapted to the requester’s desired topic. Risk Management Programs on AOD and Sexual Assault are the most common presentation. The NMU Police Officers carry informational pamphlets about AOD and the resources available for distribution during presentations. 

Most AOD pamphlets, materials, and training reference the NMU Alcohol and Other Drugs Information Guide. This is a stand-alone web page that documents the University’s AOD commitment to preventing substance abuse. It also includes information concerning available resources for assessment, referral, and treatment as well as sanctions for non-compliance. By dedicating one webpage to this information, and pointing all resource material to this page, the University eliminates some of the risk of distributing incorrect or outdated information to students and employees. This page is located at nmu.edu/druginformationguide. The link is kept updated by the NMU Police Department.

The Athletics Department also provides specialized information to student-athletes. Each athlete is required to attend an annual meeting to review the drug testing policy and banned substances. This is required by the NCAA for all NCAA athletes. Before being allowed to practice, every athlete completes a Vector Solutions module designed for NCAA athletes. Athletes also receive an email including a link to the drug testing policy. The athletes are required to acknowledge their receipt of this information. In addition, the NMU Police present AOD and sexual assault prevention information during an in-person session with athletes and coaches.

In 2018, the NMU Health Promotions Specialist retired, and the position’s responsibilities were distributed to different departments, including the Dean of Students Office and the Center for Student Enrichment. Since then, the Coordinator of the Center for Student Enrichment has been charged with providing specialized programming for NMU’s Greek organizations. 

In the Fall 2023 Semester, NMU Health Promotions was reinvigorated and rebranded to WellBeing Promotions to fit a more holistic model of programming, and a new WellBeing Promotions Coordinator was hired to lead the WellBeing Promotions Office. The Coordinator job description is as follows: Lead the new Wellbeing Promotions office, designing and delivering a program of co-curricular education, activities and informational resources to promote holistic wellbeing for NMU students. Collaborate with NMU Housing/Residence Life department, students, colleagues, and community partners (local, regional, national and international) to offer effective programming grounded in evidence and best practices. Develop and coordinate a peer program, including the hiring, training and supervising of a team of students who will provide education and support for campus.

NMU has fewer than five Greek organizations. Greek organizations have been identified nationally as groups that expose students to increased drug and alcohol use. Therefore, students who join Greek organizations are required to attend a face-to-face risk management session focusing on sexual assault, drug and alcohol awareness, and hazing. The Coordinator of the Center for Student Enrichment partners with an NMU Police Officer to offer the risk management sessions at a minimum of twice per semester. 

Northern Michigan University is committed to supporting students in maintaining a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. The NMU Counseling Center plays a central role in this effort by offering services that are designed to address substance use concerns and their underlying causes in a supportive, confidential environment.

The Counseling Center provides individual therapy sessions specifically for students dealing with substance use disorders. These sessions help students explore the root causes of their use and build strategies for lasting change. In addition, group therapy is available to support skill development in areas such as anxiety and depression which are common underlying contributors to substance use.

To ensure support is available at all times, after-hours crisis services are accessible through HelpNow, offering immediate assistance when students need it most.

As part of its preventive approach, the Counseling Center also offers Welltrack Boost, an online resource that helps students build resilience and learn lifestyle skills that can reduce the risk of drug and alcohol use. Welltrack Boost includes self-guided interactive evidence-based modules that focus on mental wellness and behavioral strategies, empowering students to take proactive steps toward healthier habits.

These resources are part of NMU’s broader commitment to fostering a safe and drug-free campus environment where students can thrive both academically and personally.

Component 2: Healthy Alternatives - Alcohol and Drug-free Events

Northern Michigan University believes that supporting student and employee well-being and a sense of belonging will help reduce unhealthy drug and alcohol behaviors. NMU provides and publicizes numerous events that are alcohol/drug-free; many of these are activities to promote well-being and belonging.

The Hub is an engagement platform that provides a complete toolkit for NMU Departments and student organizations to manage their activities/events within a private campus network, where students, staff, faculty, and alumni can connect, get involved, and share. The site is located at hub.nmu.edu. Through The Hub, NMU tracks the number of registered student organizations, which was 296 in 2023/2024 and 287 in 2024/2025. The number of alcohol and drug-free events between July 2023 and June 2025 was over 5,500, with 2,694 in 2023/2024 and 2,861 in 2024/2025. This indicates a large variety of events available and publicized to students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

The Center for Student Enrichment offers a program called “Pick One”. The initiative encourages students to get involved with at least one activity that they are passionate about. This could mean getting an on-campus job, participating in faculty-led research, or, most commonly, joining a student organization. Pick One encourages all students to discover the campus community and choose at least one activity that contributes to their sense of well-being and belonging. The program is a fun, interactive way to help students build connections and develop friendships. It features a point program to engage students. As students join organizations and participate in events, they are awarded Pick One Points, which earn them prizes. In Fall 2023, there were 1,098 participants in the program, who logged points from 118 events. In Fall 2024, there were 1,061 participants, who logged points from 120 different alcohol and drug-free events.

Component 3: Required Notifications

At Northern Michigan University, the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy is the same, verbatim, as the notifications provided to students and employees. This policy/notification is provided regularly to all students and employees via an email notification process. The notification is intended to educate members of the campus community about health risks associated with the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs as well as to provide information concerning available resources for assessment, referral, and treatment. The notification also provides information about sanctions for non-compliance. Northern Michigan University has partnered with ESI Employee Assistance Group to provide mental health counseling and well-being services to NMU employees and their family members living in their home (dependent children up to age 26).

Northern Michigan University distributes the required email notifications four times per year in the fall semester, winter semester, and two summer sessions, to each enrolled student. In addition, each employee receives an email notification two times per year in the fall semester and winter semester. The notifications include:

• Standards of conduct for students and employees
• A description of associated University and legal penalties
• A description of health risks
• A description of available resources, services, and treatment programs

New faculty and staff receive the same information during new employee orientation.  Copies of the notifications are included in Appendix B.

Component 4: Response to Noncompliance

The first part of NMU’s response to unhealthy or illegal use of alcohol or other drugs is to provide support services for people who may be struggling.  

During this reporting period, the NMU CARE (Case Administration and Resource Education) team was in development. The CARE team will be a campus-wide team of appointed staff and faculty responsible for identifying, assessing, and responding to concerns and/or disruptive behaviors by students, faculty/staff, and NMU community members who struggle academically, emotionally, or psychologically, or who present a risk to the health or safety of the University or its members. The CARE team is intended to replace the CAT (Campus Assessment Team) team, which primarily focuses on the larger, more extreme behaviors on campus. The CARE team will address each student’s case with specific support, resources, and guidance targeted to their needs to prevent problems instead of reacting to them. Using the research-based National Association of Behavior Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA) Risk Rubric, the team will assess and intervene to create a safe and supportive environment for the NMU community.

Going forward, when the CARE team receives a referral that a student has gotten into trouble for drug usage (OUIL, drug usage in dorms, etc.), the case managers send out resources to the student related to their holistic well-being and specifically related to their usage, including the NMU Counseling Center, Great Lakes Recovery, the Narcotics Anonymous of the Upper Peninsula, New Points Clinic, and Alcoholics Anonymous. Case managers will also offer to meet with students to set up SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals related to connecting to these resources and hold weekly meetings to hold them accountable to the action steps of setting up and attending those meetings. While these changes are not fully implemented in this reporting period, they will significantly improve the current response to noncompliance. 

The NMU Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency designed to protect and serve the community 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The Police Department consists of 18 sworn police officers who provide services to our campus community, including campus drug and alcohol awareness programming and activities. On-campus response by the Police Department and residence hall staff is vigorous and consistent and has resulted in an increased emphasis on enforcement and education. The University Police Department maintains a log of alcohol and other drug-related incidents that are handled by their personnel.

Several buildings on campus have Narcan stored with the AED’s and accessible to the campus community. The buildings include the Jacobetti Complex, Services Building, Harden Hall, Physical Educational Instructional Facility, Superior Dome, Cohodas Administrative Building, Northern Lights Dining, Berry Events Center, Art and Design, Hedgcock Student Service Center, McClintock Building, Weston Hall, The Science Building, Whitman Hall, The BEAR Center, and will be located in the proposed NMU Wellbeing Center. The Narcan is maintained by the NMU Police/Safety Department for expiration and replacement.

The NMU Police Department enforces Michigan Law as well as local ordinances and NMU policies. Reports regarding alcohol and other drugs are shared with the appropriate entities, including the CARE team and/or the Dean of Students Office, and Human Resources, to ensure the student or employee receives appropriate education, resource services, and, as applicable, sanctions. 

In addition to the programming provided, the NMU PD performs daily liquor inspections at the Wildcat Den, an on-campus pub/grill, to ensure compliance. The PD also staffs any functions involving alcohol on campus to ensure compliance. This includes weddings, athletics, trade shows, etc.

The NMU Dean of Students Office uses AlcoholEdu, THC101, and Prime for Life as educational tools for students who have serious or repeat offenses of NMU’s drug and alcohol regulations.

AlcoholEdu is designed for students entering college. This interactive online program uses the current evidence-based prevention methods to create a highly engaging user experience, inspiring students to make healthier decisions related to alcohol and other drugs. The course includes tailored content that engages frequent drinkers with customized messaging; educates students on the mental and physical effects of alcohol; and prepares students to engage in bystander intervention. 

Prime for Life is an evidence-based intervention that integrates science with practice. It involves assessing the research that has been conducted in the drug and alcohol field, synthesizing findings into an integrative scientific review that involves decision of program development, and the creation of “best practices” in all areas of instructor development.

THC101 covers a variety of key issues such as marijuana dependence, marijuana's effects, mental health issues, synthetic marijuana, local laws and legalization issues, and legal penalties associated with use. Tailored to the individual, students receive a confidential personalized feedback report that summarizes use and negative consequences, compares individual use with social norms, challenges personal expectations, and provides a range of strategies to quit.

The Dean of Students/Student Conduct Office receives all reports of student alcohol or other drug (AOD) violations. All incident reports/cases have an electronic record in a secure and access-restricted database (Maxient). Upon receiving a report of an AOD violation, the details are reviewed by the conduct staff to determine if there has been an alleged violation of the Student Handbook. If so, a meeting will be requested with the accused student and the student will be notified of the alleged violation.  The notification is typically through NMU email. Depending on the circumstances, it may also be sent by mail. During the meeting, conduct staff will:

• explain the conduct process and purpose
• allow students the opportunity to review the alleged violation and discuss their involvement
• explore the impact of the behavior and how it affected the individual and community
• review the University’s expectations of the University community members
• allow students to affirm, negate, or stand mute to the alleged violations
• explain the hearing process for students who negate or stand mute to alleged violations
• provide resources for students
• discuss possible sanctions 

When a student negates or stands mute on an alleged violation, they then participate in a conduct board hearing. A conduct board hearing is not a criminal trial. The standard of proof used in these hearings is called the “preponderance of evidence” standard. Based on the preponderance of evidence, the conduct board decides if the student is more-likely-than-not responsible, or not-responsible. 

Component 5: Consistently Applied Sanctions 

Another part of compassionate care for students and employees is ensuring that sanctions are applied fairly and consistently. This section describes the guidelines used to determine sanctions for violations of the alcohol and drug policies, including educational sanctions. The statistics for this reporting period are listed directly after the guidelines. These statistics detail the number of students and employees who were found to be in violation of the University’s drug and alcohol policies. Additional information is provided about medical amnesty incidents and recidivism rates and the specific sanction imposed for each violation.

Definitions and Guidelines:

The following excerpts are from applicable NMU Drug and Alcohol policies, ordinances, and Student Code of Conduct. These are the guidelines used when applying sanctions. All links (for electronic versions of this report) and link addresses (for paper versions of this report) are listed in the Appendices. 

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use: All Northern Michigan University staff must follow the alcohol and drugs rules set forth in the staff personnel policy.  All Northern Michigan University students must follow the alcohol and drugs rules as stated in NMU policies and the student code.  See Appendices B and D.

Alcohol Policy and Ordinance: No person shall possess, consume, or use alcohol on the campus of Northern Michigan University or while in or on any property belonging to or under the control of the University, except as permitted by the Board of Trustees or its designee. See Appendices F and G.

Drug-Free Workplace Act: Northern Michigan University, in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, P.L. 100-690, is committed to providing a drug-free workplace by prohibiting the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of any controlled substance by an employee in the workplace. 
See Appendix E.

Tobacco/Vaping: Northern Michigan University is a tobacco-free campus. The tobacco-free policy prohibits the use of all tobacco products as defined by the American College Health Association which includes all tobacco-derived or containing products, including cigarettes, vapor cigarettes (e-cigarettes), cigars, cigarillos, hookah-smoked products and oral tobacco (spit and spitless, smokeless, chew, snuff). See Appendices H and I.

NMU will impose sanctions for employee violations consistent with local ordinances, state and federal law, and with applicable collective bargaining agreements, employee handbooks, and University regulations. Violations of these procedures and guidelines will result in personnel action against the employee which may include 1) verbal warning; 2) written reprimand; 3) suspension without pay; or 4) discharge. The discipline administered will be reasonable in light of the violation, frequency of the violation, and the employment history of the employee. See Appendix B.  

The University encourages counseling and rehabilitation for substance abusers and has made available employee assistance services, alcohol and drug education programs, and support groups for this purpose.  Reasonable effort will be made to rehabilitate the employee: however, rehabilitation will not replace disciplinary action.  Violations of laws and ordinances may result in misdemeanor or felony convictions accompanied by the imposition of legal sanctions. See Appendix B. 

Drugs: Students shall not possess, use, distribute, share, sell or manufacture illegal drugs, or other controlled substances except as permitted by law. See Appendix D.

Drugs: NMU will impose sanctions for employee violations consistent with local ordinances, state and federal law, and with applicable collective bargaining agreements, employee handbooks, and University regulations. Violations of these procedures and guidelines will result in personnel action against the employee which may include 1) verbal warning; 2) written reprimand; 3) suspension without pay; or 4) discharge.  The discipline administered will be reasonable in light of the violation, frequency of the violation, and the employment history of the employee. See Appendix E.

Violation Statistics:  

For the period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025, the following violations, medical amnesty occurrences, sanctions, and recidivism statistics are noted for students. Student statistics are provided by the NMU Dean of Students Office.

Drug Violations by Semester:

• Summer 2023: 0 drug violations, 0 medical amnesty cases
• Fall 2023: 30 drug violations, 0 medical amnesty cases
• Winter 2024: 22 drug violations, 0 medical amnesty cases
• Summer 2024: 0 drug violations, 0 medical amnesty cases
• Fall 2024: 21 drug violations, 0 medical amnesty cases
• Winter 2025: 17 drug violations, 1 medical amnesty case

Total Drug Violations for the Reporting Period:

• Drug Violations: 2025: 90
• Medical Amnesty Cases: 1

Drug Recidivism:

• Total number of students with multiple offenses: 8
• Students with a second drug offense: 8
• Students with a third drug offense: 0
• Students with a fourth or subsequent offense: 0

Drug Sanctions by Semester:

                          Warning   Disciplinary   Abeyance*    Suspension    Expulsion      Total
Summer 2023        0               0                     0                      0                        0                 0

Fall 2023               21              9                     0                      0                        0                30

Winter 2024          14              8                     0                      0                        0                22

Summer 2024        0               0                     0                      0                        0                 0

Fall 2024               14              7                     0                      0                        0                21

Winter 2025           2             14                     0                      0                        0                16

Total                      51            38                     0                      0                        0               89**

*Suspension held in abeyance offers a student a chance to avoid an immediate suspension. Rather than serving the suspension right away, the student is presented with a required condition. The suspension is only implemented if the student fails to satisfy these terms.

**There were 90 drug violations, 1 of which qualified for medical amnesty. As a result, sanctions were issued in 89 cases.

Alcohol Violations by Semester:

• Summer 2023: 0 Alcohol Violations, 0 Medical Amnesty
• Fall 2023: 44 Alcohol Violations, 0 Medical Amnesty
• Winter 2024: 56 Alcohol Violations, 2 Medical Amnesty
• Summer 2024: 1 Alcohol Violation, 0 Medical Amnesty
• Fall 2024: 43 Alcohol Violations, 5 Medical Amnesty
• Winter 2025: 25 Alcohol Violations, 0 Medical Amnesty

Total Alcohol Violations for the Reporting Period:

• Alcohol Violations: 169
• Medical Amnesty Cases: 7

Alcohol Recidivism:

• Total number of students with multiple offenses: 16
• Students with a second alcohol offense: 13
• Students with a third alcohol offense: 3
• Students with a fourth or subsequent alcohol offense: 0

Alcohol Sanctions by Semester:

                              Warning   Disciplinary   Abeyance*  Suspension     Expulsion       Total
Summer 2023           0                0                     0                    0                         0                 0

Fall 2023                  35               8                     1                    0                         0               44

Winter 2024             37             16                     0                    1                         0               54

Summer 2024            1              0                      0                    0                         0                1

Fall 2024                  25             13                     0                    0                         0               38

Winter 2025             13             12                     0                    0                         0               25

Total                       111             49                     1                    1                         0             162**

*Suspension held in abeyance offers a student a chance to avoid an immediate suspension. Rather than serving the suspension right away, the student is presented with a required condition. The suspension is only implemented if the student fails to satisfy these terms. 

** There were 169 alcohol violations, 7 of which qualified for medical amnesty. As a result, sanctions were issued in 162 cases.  

Alcohol and Other Drug Violations Comparison 2021-23 to 2023-25

Drug Violations 2021-23: 148             Drug Violations 2023-25: 90 (***Decrease 39.2%)
Alcohol Violations 2021-23: 175        Alcohol Violations 2023-25: 169 (Decrease 3.5%)

***Part of the decrease in drug violations may be attributed to changes in Michigan law that legalized marijuana use.
 

NMU Student-Athlete Additional Sanctions: 

NMU NCAA athletes are subject to all NMU policies, ordinances, and the Student Code of conduct. In addition, these athletes are subject to additional guidelines, communicated through the Northern Michigan University Student-Athlete Drug Education and Testing Policy.  While each team may implement additional guidelines, the minimum requirement that must be enforced within each team is that the athlete will consume “no alcohol during the 48 hours prior to competition.” Also, student-athletes may not use tobacco products during any NMU athletics-related activity, meaning during competition, practice, in the locker room, pre-practice, post-practice, on a bus trip, during a volunteer activity, or at an athlete study-table. See Appendices J and K. 

When the University becomes aware that an NCAA athlete has violated the Student Code, the Athletic Review Board may add additional sanctions as needed. In the period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025 there were 13 instances of violations where the Athletic Review Board met to discuss student athlete violations and an additional sanction was determined. Below are the additional sanctions listed by the dates of meeting: 

12/17/24   Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Fire Safety/Weapons
                 Sanction: One game suspension

12/17/24   Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Disorderly Conduct
                 Sanction: One game suspension

12/17/24   Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Disorderly Conduct
                 Sanction: One game suspension

12/17/24   Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Disorderly Conduct
                 Sanction: One game suspension

12/17/24   Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Drugs/Alcohol/Compliance/Gen. Regs.
                 Sanction: One game suspension

1/20/24     Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Disorderly Conduct/Destruction of Property
                 Sanction: 2-hour reduction of countable athletically related activities

1/20/24     Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Disorderly Conduct
                 Sanction: 2 hours of community service

3/17/24     Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Drugs/Compliance w/ Univ. Policy
                 Sanction: One game suspension

3/17/24     Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Drugs/Compliance w/ Univ. Policy
                 Sanction: One game suspension

3/17/24     Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Harassment
                 Sanction: 6 hours of community service

3/17/24     Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Harassment
                 Sanction: 6 hours of community service

3/17/25     Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Disorderly Conduct/Drugs
                 Sanction: 6 hours of community service

4/24/25     Reason: Violation of NMU Athletic Code: Disorderly Conduct
                 Sanction: 6 hours of community service

Sanctioning Review:

The Dean of Students Office reviewed all sanctions imposed on students through the student conduct process between 2023 and 2025, in the timeframe of the biennial review. Beginning in the Fall 2023 semester, the Student Conduct Office had changed the range of weeks to include 4-12 weeks of probation.  Due to this, there were no instances of a drug or alcohol sanction outside of the recommended guidelines, unless it was associated with other violations.

All instances of serious first-time drug and alcohol offenses and any second-time offenses resulted in students being required to take an online educational course. Additionally, in cases involving a violation by a minor, a notification letter may be sent to the parent/guardian. Instances where there was concern about addiction or it was a third-time violation typically resulted in students being required to take a third-party in-person substance abuse course called Prime for Life.  At the present time, Prime for Life is no longer offered through our third-party partner.  The University is determining alternative methods to address this specific need, including the ability to utilize our current well-being resources.

NMU Staff and Faculty Sanctions: 

For the period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2025, there was one (1) violation noted for employees. The violation resulted in involuntary discharge from employment. Employee statistics are provided by the NMU Human Resources Office.
 

Alcohol Sanctions for NMU Faculty and Staff by Semester:

                          Warning   Disciplinary     Suspension    Discharge           Total
Summer 2023        0                0                        0                      0                        0    
      
Fall 2023                0                0                        0                      0                        0    
        
Winter 2024           0                0                        0                      0                        0   
         
Summer 2024        0                0                        0                      0                        0

Fall 2024                0                0                        0                      1                        1  
          
Winter 2025           0                0                        0                      0                        0   
         
Total                      0                 0                        0                      1                        1            

 

Component 6: The Biennial Review

The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Biennial Review Committee meets throughout the year to assess campus programming, culminating in a regular report to document the assessment. The committee’s review is guided by their goals to:

• Promote a safe, healthy environment conducive to learning and working;
• Provide advice and support for collaborative programming and marketing for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug awareness, prevention education, training, intervention, evaluation, referral, and treatment; 
• Provide a means for collective review of the Northern Michigan University Alcohol and Other Drug Policies;
• Establish a process for collecting information and data to inform the biennial review of the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act report; and
• Review the effectiveness of notification to the campus community.  

The committee found that the University is generally in compliance with its Program. The notifications meet the regulatory requirements for content and delivery. The education programming complies with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and sanctions appear to be consistently applied.

Program Strengths and Challenges

Beyond meeting basic compliance requirements, the committee identified several notable strengths within the University’s alcohol and other drug (AOD) prevention program:

• The University provides strong institutional support and a robust budget for web-based educational programming through Vector Solutions.
• There is significant community engagement, including close collaboration with the City Police Department, Health Department, and the Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (MARESA).
• The University has demonstrated a downward trend in overall AOD violations.
• Students have increasing access to alternative activities through programs such as The Hub and Pick One.
• The University has reinstated the WellBeing Promotions (formerly known as Health Promotions). Operations resumed in November 2023 with the hiring of a WellBeing Promotions Coordinator (WPC). In August 2024, the team expanded to include four student WellBeing Peer Educators and a Graduate Administrative Assistant. Under the leadership of the WPC, the team has focused on education surrounding the eight dimensions of wellbeing and implemented several AOD prevention initiatives, including the following: Sip Smart, a mocktail and trivia night promoting safe alcohol practices; a pumpkin painting and harm reduction educational event; and two Toolkit Tuesday tabling sessions focused on AOD awareness and harm reduction strategies.
• University policies are proactively enforced by NMU Police Department, Housing and Residence Life, the Dean of Students Office and Human Resources..

Despite these strengths, the committee also identified several ongoing challenges:

• A lack of reconciliation between federal and state regulations regarding marijuana presents policy and enforcement concerns.
• There is growing concern over increased prescription drug use among students.
• The proliferation of retail outlets offering legal drugs and alcohol has raised concerns about student access and exposure.

Prior recommendations and the current status:

• Provide budget support for a dedicated Health Promotion position: the University now has a dedicated Wellbeing Promotions Coordinator.
• Utilize purchased assessment programs as an assessment tool to review the before and after data as the program allows: There are actually two surveys utilized. The first survey is utilized by Housing and is used to inform programming. The second survey, which can be distributed as part of the Vector Solutions web-based training program, will be utilized in the future by the Wellbeing Promotions Coordinator.
• Interact with Vector Solutions to modify the current program to include legal recreational drugs and prescription drug awareness: Vector Solutions has modified their program in response to changes in the legal environment.
• The employee notification is posted as the policy and the student notification is posted separately on the Police Department website. Develop one policy that applies to both, and post each notification in a consistent location so that there is a permanent record of the notifications: The recommendation was accepted and enacted.  
• There appear to be two pages for Alcohol and Other Drugs: https://nmu.edu/policedepartment/alcohol-and-other-drugs-information-guide and https://nmu.edu/druginformationguide. Work with marketing to ensure that only one page is active and shows in an NMU google search: This has been corrected.
• Development of a successful Wellbeing program through a dedicated People, Culture, and Wellbeing area: Wellbeing Department created in 2023, is now staffing five persons.
• Update the Medical Amnesty Policy to include Good Samaritan reporting: The policy has been updated and a new handbook has been approved.
• Implement THC 101 by the Dean of Student Office: This has been implemented.
• Based on decreased identified drug and alcohol issues, continue with the current programming efforts: Programming initiatives continued. 

• For comparison purposes, continue to research other affordable assessment and educational options for students who may have alcohol or other drug addiction: A committee has been formed to assess Vector prior contract expiration in 2026.
• Review and update the NMU Student Code, as appropriate: The new Student Handbook was approved by the NMU Board of Trustees September 2024 and will be enacted Fall of 2025.
• Advertise Narcan locations in buildings around campus: A map of NARCAN locations is posted on the NMU Police Department website and locations have been labeled and are easily identifiable.

New Recommendations:

• Implement new bystander intervention programming focused on wellbeing.
   
• Increase promotion of Welltrack Boost, the University’s after-hours support resource for students in crisis, along with other available mental health services.
   
• If the "Pick 1" program is no longer funded, determine how the University will continue to provide alternative programming to address its objectives.
   
• Evaluate whether to continue using Vector or transition to a different software platform for educational modules.
   
• Ensure that data collected from student surveys is actively used to inform and shape programming decisions.
   
• Assess whether existing educational modules are sufficient, or if there is a need to develop in-house or supplemental alternatives.
   
• While the due diligence process for purchased programming ensures that the product is supported by evidence of effectiveness, the University should develop and implement clear methods for evaluating the impact and effectiveness of internally developed initiatives.
   
• With external funding (previously provided by the Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency) for the Prime for Life program ending, identify and implement alternative strategies to address recurring or severe alcohol and drug-related issues among students.

Appendices

Note: The links published here are all accurate and working at the time of the report publication. To accommodate for the changing nature of webpages, the NMU Police Department retains a master pdf copy of all the documents linked below, capturing the version in effect for the as-of date of this report. Should any future reader need to see the version in effect as of this report date, contact the NMU Police Department. 

Appendix A - The Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Campus Biennial Review Committee Charter
at: https://nmu.edu/policies/1498

Appendix B - Drug-Free Schools and Drug-Free Workplace Notification Letters
Student notification at: https://nmu.edu/policies/1533
Employee notification at: https://nmu.edu/policies/1597

Appendix C - Alcohol and Other Drug Information Guide
at: https://nmu.edu/policedepartment/alcohol-and-other-drugs-information-guide

Appendix D - Student Handbook and Code of Conduct
May 19, 2023 Version at: https://nmu.edu/policies/1070

Appendix E - Drug-Free Workplace Act Policy
at: https://nmu.edu/policies/863

Appendix F - Possession and Use of Alcoholic Beverages by Students Policy
at: https://nmu.edu/policies/1232

Appendix G - Ordinance 01.00 Alcoholic Beverages: Possession or Use of
at: https://nmu.edu/policies/1083

Appendix H - Tobacco Free Campus Policy
at: https://nmu.edu/policies/1097

Appendix I - Ordinance 21.00 Use of Tobacco Products
at https://nmu.edu/policies/848

Appendix J - NMU Athletics Policies and Procedures
at: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/2021/8/16/information-policies-procedures-reports.aspx

Appendix K - NMU Student Athlete Drug Education & Testing Policy
at: https://nmuwildcats.com/documents/2024/8/2/Drug_Testing_Policy_2024-25.pdf